Read about it in the Wiki link above and have a scan of the promo video below.
In the last movie that featured her (The Lady Sings The Blues) she was played by Diana Ross in 1972 ... good grief is it really almost 50 years ago? That's probably worth another watch!
This was originally released in Sep 2019 but has just also come out on her new 5 track EP 'I Am' which I featured a while ago. This one has grown on me and I've found a video of it which adds another dimension, so time to give it another 'bump'.
Another good release from 30 Oct 2020. I guess these have got a bit lost over the festive period so it's time to give them a boost.
This appears to be her second single. Her debut was 'Love Is...' and was released 13 Aug 2020.
She resides in Kansas City, Missouri. She was interviewed on KUAW (Knowledge Understanding And Wisdom) radio in 2019. In it she says she was influenced by Alicia Keys as well as Jazmine Sullivan and Lalah Hathaway. If you have time to listen she comes across as taking her art seriously.
Yet another release from the tail end of 2020 (22 Oct) that needs another push. It's just so soulful.
Tony Grant was a member of Az Yet replacing Marc Nelson in 1997. He's also a successful actor. He released an album 'Grant Life' in 2007 and according to Wiki around 8 singles, 5 of them taken from the album. The best tracks from the album are 'Slippin'' which doesn't appear to have been released as a single, 'I Want', 'What's Up With This'.
Angel
Another deep soul ballad released 20 Jan 2017.
Beggin' You (To Come Home)
He featured on 4 tracks on Bobby Wilkerson's album 'The 'B' Project' in 2006. The best is a great deep soul ballad.
A House Is Not A Home 'Live'
I literally stumbled across this clip of him singing A House Is Not A Home live in a stage play of 'Creeps And Silly Women'. The sound quality's not great as it was recorded on a phone but he sure has some great pipes!
Another quality recent release from 30 Oct 2020 from Shantal Reed.
According to her facebook page she's from Bossier City, Louisiana but now lives in Phoenix, Arizona. This appears to her first single and from her sound it wouldn't surpise me if she has a gospel background as her voice is strong. Very nice, I like this one!
Another 'quality' recent release which came out 1 Nov 2020 from Yulanda Reynolds.
Moma, I Can't Breathe
Released 14 Aug 2020
More of the same from an earlier release.
Hello Sista
Released 1 Nov 2019 and 'probably' her debut single from an album released later on 16 Feb 2020 'God Gets The Glory' which is, as you would guess, a gospel album. There is a video of Mounatin taken from the album which was posted in2015 so perhaps that was her first.
One of the better recent new releases comes from Shelby Winfrey 'Feelin' Ya' released 20 Nov 2020. I can't find anything else from her so have to assume it's her debut?
B. Golden hit the UK Soul chart in 2020 with 'Dance With Me', (released 17 Apr 2020), this is his new single which has just got to be influenced by Prince! Not really my 'cup o' tea' as it just 'plods' on .. and on .. and on .. but some may like it?
Church Girl
Released 4 Jan 2021
Skin Feat. Conya Doss & Sunny Jones)
Released 10 July 2020 the follow up to Dance With Me
Mellow neo soul/jazz 'nodder' from Maysa (Leak) released 1 Jan 2021.
I first came across Maysa in 1999 when Expansion released her 'All My Life' album which had the cover of Gil Scott-Heron's 'The Bottle' on it. She had already released an album on Blue Thumb in 1995 which contained 'What About Our Love' which became her first single and still sounds fresh!
She comes from Baltimore and started her career as a member of Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove. She them became a member of London based Incognito in 1992 and debuted on the album 'Tribes, Vibes + Scribes' from which the hit cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing' transpired which is still Inconito's second biggest hit (#19) after 'Always There' reached #6 a year earlier featuring Jocelyn Brown.
To date she has recorded 14 solo album between 1995-2017 (the last 10 are all on Shanachie) as well as appearing on several Incognito albums including their latest 'Tomorrow's New Dream' in 2019.
I'm loving this. At last a great new/recent release - this is proper 'old school' soul!
It is a taster for his debut album 'Dance Again' which was released 27 Nov 2020 which is essentially gospel with the first 10 tracks more secular and the last tracks more gospel.
I found his facebook page but it doesn't give much info, but I suspect his full name is Aladesanmi Akinlabi, as that's what's on the publishing credits. From it's 'vibe' I strongly suspect he's from UK and it's a UK release.
I've actually found an interview he did and he's from London. He says he wrote 'Love Will' in Feb 1990 and that it hasn't changed at all from when he first wrote it. He considered releasing 'Dance Again' or 'Forever' as first single but went for 'Love Will' instead - good choice. He says in the interview that a world reknowned gospel artist approached him in 1993 asking if he could record 'Forever' but he declined as he wanted to record it himself one day and 27 years later his dream has come true.
He has been part of the UK gospel music scene for 30 years and has worked in HR in the public sector for most of his career LinkedIn.
Love Will
Released 11 Oct 2020
Dance Again
He has now released Dance Again as the follow up single on 27 Nov 2020 to coincide with the release of the album.
Not available on YT yet but going through the samples on Amazon there's some great tracks including the two above and:
Do You Know I Love You - a soulful ballad featuring his daughter Lisa Labi
You - a smooth and deeply soulful/gospel tune
Family - a cool soulful vibe which features Lois Kirby who has a great voice
Your My Best Friend - a timeless soulful ballad
Jesus There Is No One Like You - a gospel stepper
I Need You Everyday - another timeless soulful ballad
One And Only God - one of those rousing gospel anthems
Much More Than Ever - a Motownesque gospel stomper
17 tracks for £14.99 - just buy it you won't be disappointed. Already filed as one of the best for 2021 already.
I nearly skipped past this with the blatant exploitative cover to grab attention and with [Explicit] warning thinking it would be the usual R&B/hip-hop nonsense, but was pleasantly surprised when I heard the sound clip, so here you go. Released 12 Jan 2021, a half decent R&B/soul dancer.
A new 6 track EP/mini album from Sista Dee & The Dis n Dat Band released yesterday (15 Jan 2021) is a pleasant surprise.
They were formed in 1999 by Black Uhuru drummer Marcus 'Rangotan' Smith and steel drummer Sista Dee and are based in Boston, MA.
They have a unique sound, incorporating soul, roots reggae, dance hall and other Caribbean styles which distinguishes them. Don't be put off if you're not into ska or reggae and the likes as there are 4 soulful tracks on this EP. The killler cuts for me are 'I Cry' and 'This Life' (which is the single being promoted) with 'honourary mentions' to 'Groovin'' and 'Show Me Love'. This is a welcome break from many of the bland and samey R&B tracks being put out.
The latest release on Patrick Biggerstaff's Izipho Soul label is a reissue of a couple of soul/jazz tracks, 'This Is Real' & 'What You Do To Me' by Chicago session singer Josie Falbo who released them on 'Taylor Street' album in 2010 on the Southport label. Taylor Street in Chicago is known as Chicago's 'Little Italy' where Falbo grew up.
She relased a 45 on Vee-Jay in 1963 (Leave Me Alone / Easy To Love) but had more success singing jingles on big brand commercials such as Coca Cola, McDonalds, Kellogs and Budweiser and many others. She has worked with the Lakeside Singers and is an in demand session singer appearing with some of the greats such as Michael Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Mavis Staple, Della Reese, EWF, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton.
I would describe her voice as a blend between Minnie Riperton and Whitney Houston. Her voice has such clarity and purity and she sings with such soul - just listen to her renditon of 'Oh Happy Day' below.
I don't know what age she is, but let's presume she was as young as even 13 when she released her single in 1963 which would make her at least 60 when she recorded Taylor Street in 2010 and 70 when she released her latest CD 'You Must Believe In Spring' in Sep 2020, yet her voice sounds so much younger.
This Is Real
What You Do To Me
As a bonus here's a couple of other tracks from the album, a cover of Etta James' classic 'At Last' and her version of Edwin Hawkins' gospel stomper 'Oh Happy Day'.
Taylor Street is available on Amazon or direct from Josie Falbo website (click image below)
